The Shinto religion, the indigenous religion of Japan, is a culmination of other beliefs and folk lore which make it unique to many other indigenous religions. Key characteristics of indigenous religions are clearly seen in Shinto practices. However, the acceptance and blending of other religions sets Shinto apart from other religions. Shinto has strongly been influenced by Buddhism and by Confucianism. But first, a brief history of the Shinto provides an epic story of japans cosmic beginnings/
to Manchurian rule. The Tokugawa Shogunate employed direct methods of control on their citizens. The Sword Hunt mentioned earlier is one example. Another was the practice of Sankin-Kotai, or alternate residence. Daimyo were required to alternate between living on their own lands and in Edo, the capital. This allowed the Shogun to control them in two ways. The first was that the capital could keep a close eye on the daimyo while they were in Edo. The second was that making this regular pilgrimage